Trip for hay-forks.



No. 66,55l. 1 Patented 1an. 22, 90|

J. PATTEN, sn.

TRIP FOB HAY FORKS.

(Application led Sept. 24, 1900.)

(No Rudel.)

-f l "n, /0

Figi.-

www"

A TTOHNE YS :UNrrED STATES JoHN PATTEN, sn., oF AMANTI, UTAH.

TRIP FOR HAY-FORKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,551, dated January 22, 1901.

Application filed September 24, 1900. Serial No. 30,936. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PATTEN, Sr.,a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Manti, in the county of San Pete and State of Utah, have invented a new and Improved Trip for Hay-Forks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in tripping devices for grapple hay-forks.

In a certain class of hay-forks the position of the trip is such that only a certain amount of pressure can be had when the fork is loaded, and owing to this it frequently happens when working in fine hay that the center of the load drops out before the trip is sprung.

The object of my invention is to so attach the trip that the above defect is absolutely overcome.

I will describe a trip for hay-forks embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fork when loaded. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the position of parts after dumping the load. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of t-he trip-rod, and Fig. 4: is a perspective view of a trip-rope guide or link employed.

Referring to the drawings,- 1 2 designate the two fork members, having their shank portions 3 4 pivotally connected together in the usual manner.

The trip consists of a rod or bar 5, longitudinally curved and having its arch extended upward. At one end of the bar 5 is a hook member 6, which is pivot-ally connected to a block 7, to which a hook 8 of a hoisting device is designed to be attached. Preferably the chains or ropes for holding the forks separated are connected at one end to said forks and at the other end with arms 9, extended outward from the block. The outer or free end of the trip-baris turned to form a hook 10, having an eye to receive the trip-rope 11. This trip-rope passes through a guide or link having an eye 12, through which a bar of one of the shank portions 3 passes loosely, and also having an eye 18, through which the trip-rope passes. This link is longitudinally curved, as indicated in Fig. 4, so as to cause it to bite securely in its adjusted place on the shank. From the guide the rope 11 passes laterally through an eye 14 on one of the fork members. By thus arranging the rope before leading it to one side it may be more readily manipulated by a person standing at a point having any relation to the load than is possible when the trip-rope extends directly downward from the tripping device. The trip-rod slides through a ring 15, connected to the shank members of the forks at the pivotal point, as clearly indicated in the drawings.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the fork in a position supporting a load. When the load reaches the desired point in a barn, loft, or stack, a downward pull upon the rope 11 will cause the free end of the bar 5 to move down! ward, permitting said bar to slide through the ring 15, and the longitudinal curve of the bar will prevent it from sliding or slipping too. rapidly. As the hook 10 engages with the ring 15, as shown in Fig. 2, the two fork members will be separated and drop the load.

The trip device can be made lighter or heavier to suit the weight of different forks by simply lengthening or shortening the hook. portion 10. For example, in the use of a light fork the lifting-hook 10 should be longer, thus giving the fork greater Weight at a dead-center and overbalancing the weight of the trip. In heavier forks the hook may be shorter.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A tripping device for hay-forks,compris ing a bar, a ring on the fork through which the bar may slide, said bar having a hook at one end for engagement with a block adapted for attachment-to a hoisting-tackle, a hook at the opposite end of said bar, a guide adjustable on the shank of one of the fork members, an eye on one of the fork members, and a trip-rope attached to said last-named hook and'passing through the guide and through said eye, substantially as specified.

2. A trip for a hay-fork, consisting of a longitudinally-curved bar having its ends turned to form hooks, a block to which one of the hooks is attached, a ring on the fork for engaging with the other hook, a guide mounted to slide on the shank of one of the fork mem- IOO bers and having an eye for a trip-rope, said guide being longitudinally Curved, and a trip-rope connecting with one of the hooks of the trip-rod and passing through the eye of 5 the guide, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a grapple hayfork, of a tripping-rod therefor, an eye on one of the fork members, a, guide movable on the shank of afork member, and a tripping-rope 1o extended from the tripping-rod through said guide and then laterally through the eye on' one of the fork members and then downward, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence oi 15 two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN PATTEN, SEN.

Witnesses:

EMIL ERICKSON, HAYE R. CLARK. 

